AIRPORT food can be better than a box of fried chicken before a dash to the boarding gate. In fact airport food can be amazing. Just not really in Australia.

Food website the Daily Meal spent six months finding the very best airport restaurants around the world. From a short list of 100 restaurants, they cut it back to 31.

Not one of them is in Australia.

It’s little wonder. Around the world the best airport restaurants have masterchef’s behind them - names like Jamie Oliver, Iron Chef Cat Cora, Gordon Ramsay and two-Michelin-starred chef Dani Garcia.

We asked news.com.au readers what they thought our best airport restaurant was. The answers varied from a kebab shop to PJ Obriens pub grub.

Some were downright scathing.

“Sydney and Melbourne scrape across the line - other airports in Australia are like visiting fourth world countries - and some of these are gateways to our tourist destinations. Not a great intro...,” Gordon Watson said.

Tell us below: What do you think about airport food?

Now before you say Neil Perry does have a restaurant at Sydney Airport. That is only accessible to first class or platinum frequent flier passengers of Qantas. So it doesn’t count. Even if it is amazing.

Jamie Oliver’s London Gatwick restaurant Union Jack’s bar came in at number 18 with a menu packed full of the famous chef’s top sellers including The Full Monty - two free-range sausages, crispy smoked bacon, crispy black pudding, "Burford Brown" eggs, potatoes and sticky onions, roast tomatoes, field mushrooms, and organic baked beans. Hungry now?

At number four was Bubbles Seafood and Wine Bar in Amsterdam’s Schipol Airport where diners can try more than 50 different types of champagne as they snack on raw seafood surrounded by a saltwater aquarium.

And then there’s Australia. So why is Australia the bogan of airport food?

According to Sydney Airport it's because Australia is not a transit hub.

None of Australia's airports are layover airports, you don't have people connecting for hours. So they tend to concentrate more on take away and family food.

Sydney Airport is at least leading the way in the gourmet food field by signing chef Jared Ingersoll from Danks Street Depot.

Still some food insiders say we could do more.

Rebecca Varidel from Inside Cuisine joined news.com.au readers in calling for better airport food. Despite being a frequent traveller she makes sure she has nothing but coffee at the airport. Her one exception is Jared Ingersoll at Sydney Airport.

"It's not just airlines, railway food is horrible too. In Osaka, Japan there is three levels of fantastic restaurants under the train station. There were lines to get in," Ms Varidel said.

"Our airport operators maybe should sign someone and give them a deal for space. It would be a great way to showcase Australia by seeking out better food and better chefs."

Here’s the full list. For photos of each of the restaurants and more details go to The Daily Meal.

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Comments on this story

Elle Posted at 5:26 PM November 27, 2012

I wouldn't say Australian airports are the absolute worst, I have been to some airports in the US which have a small range of fast food... disgusting, at least you can buy a smoothie, salad or stop off at Bambini Trust wine bar in Sydney international airport. We are just missing a great restaurant/subsidiary of a great restaurant...maybe a Cafe Sopra/Fratelli Fresh or a modified version of Spice Temple would be great there... once it's in, I'm sure many national and international travellers would dine there!!! Nothing better to kill a few hours in style before/after or in between flights!!

Teesha of Sydney Posted at 5:26 PM November 27, 2012

Australian airports may have crap food, but I can't imagine the prices at these so-called 'decent' airport eateries! Not to mention that most of these places would be in one terminal or another and there would be no guarantee you could even access them.
And anyone who complains about Australian airport food needs to visit some terminals at LAX, JFK and Dulles... stale Dunkin Donuts and old pizza anyone?

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